Really getting nervous here...

For some of my "faithful readers" this is old news, and for the rest it is a confession of sorts....

You all know that I have Celiac, and was diagnosed in July of 2005. I carry the classic symptoms of malabsorbtion, intestinal discomfort, stomach aches and weight loss. I also carry a relatively rare symptom, one that not a lot of Celiac's have. Lucky me. I have Enamel Hypoplasy. Which means that the enamel on my teeth is eroding, my teeth are rotting, and becoming brittle and cracking. Last year alone, I underwent four root canals, and many hours of rebuilding the front ones to cover the cracks and chips. They are literally beyond repair now...

I have had two specialists come from Vancouver and UBC, both under the same conclusion. This ties in with the Dentist that I have been seeing here, the mass decay that has happened in less than 18 months, and the fact that I am in need of 14 root canals now. Yep, you read that right, not a typo.

I have an appointment on February 7th with an oral surgeon. He will assess my situation, and plan on a date to have all of them taken out. All. Every last one. Finito. Adieu pain. Oh, how forgetful of me, yep, I have mass pain in my mouth, down to eating soft foods, and practically every day a small piece of tooth breaks off again.....

I am picking "my new chompers" out of a magazine. They will not be veneers, as the decay would not support posts and veneers. Plus - have you checked out the price of that? Wow, I was shocked.... They will be dentures, but, the 2007 version of them, not your grandparent's version of them. I will leave the oral surgeon's office (date still unknown) sans teeth of my own, but with my new ones in place. I will never go a day without teeth. As gross as that sounds, I laid down the law and said that this is traumatic enough for me and my family, that I cannot go around for 7-14 days with only gums. Very sore, bleeding, stitched up gums mind you, but the dentures will act as a pressure band-aid, and they treat the liners with a clotting agent, so that will help.

But, I am very nervous. I have had these teeth all my adult life. They are a part of me, even though they are a huge pain, they are affecting my self esteem, my eating, my ability to be social, and I am on pain killers for the decay....they are mine. Now I have to get used to a prosthetic, my smile will change (not that I like smiling now...) my speech will change, and not to mention I will probably look like a grotesque monster all swollen and sore for about 3 weeks....

I have to do something though....and this is it. I am asking that everyone send positive thoughts, warm fuzzies and think of me on the 7th....date for extraction to be determined then...